New Balance Fresh Foam X Balos review

Having tested the New Balance Fresh Foam X Balos both in the lab and on runs, we found it's:

• A super-plush daily trainer that we believe will delight fans of the OG Nike Invincible.
• Perfect for midfoot strikers who value a cushioned-yet-lightweight ride for easy runs or long distances.
• Ideal for runners who enjoy the 1080 series but wish for a lighter, more rockered option.

The biggest downside of the Balos is its steep price, which places it at the upper end of premium daily trainers. In our view, the performance doesn’t entirely justify the cost. For runners seeking a more reasonable price/performance ratio, we recommend the ASICS Novablast 5 or the Adidas Adizero EVO SL.

We also believe the energy return from the Fresh Foam X midsole falls short for a shoe at this price point. If superior bounce is what you’re after, the ASICS Superblast 2 offers a lighter build, more cushioning, and a state-of-the-art midsole.

One of the best ways to describe the Balos is “cushioned”—it offers not only a plush running experience but also boasts a 37.8 mm heel height, just shy of the 40-mm threshold.

We think that this measurement strikes an excellent balance for this shoe. Anything more would have significantly compromised stability, and despite the ultra-soft foam, it’s remarkably difficult to bottom out at easy or moderate paces—the ones best suited for this model.

With 31.9 mm in the forefoot, the Balos provides generous cushioning for forefoot strikers, making it particularly effective for long runs where enhanced muscle protection and sustained comfort are essential.

New Balance lists an official drop of 6.0 mm for the Balos, and our measurement came in at 5.9 mm—a nearly spot-on result that's ideal for midfoot strikers.

In our view, this speaks volumes about New Balance, especially compared to brands like Hoka, whose Mach X 2 features an advertised drop nearly double its real figure.

The midsole of the Balos is quite interesting. Although it advertises Fresh Foam X, it uses a unique compound that differ from models like the EVA-only 1080 v14 or Evoz v3. New Balance has blended 20% PEBA with 80% EVA, adding a touch of energy return that, frankly, is much-needed for a shoe at this price point.

That said, we believe 20% PEBA is still underwhelming for a shoe costing so much. Competitors like the Nike Invincible 3 and Saucony Triumph 22 feature full-PEBA midsoles at lower prices. However, knowing New Balance, we’ve tempered our expectations regarding energy return even before unboxing the shoe.

That's why we believe that the standout feature of the Balos isn’t its bounce but its cloud-like softness. Measuring 11.6 HA on our durometer, it delivers undeniable plushness, ideal for runners who love a marshmallowy sensation underfoot.

The added PEBA enhanced the midsole’s performance in cold conditions, showing only a 24% firmness increase after 20 minutes in our freezer. Therefore, it remains impressively plush—even during frosty winter runs.

We found a basic 4.7-mm insole with no perforations for added airflow. Honestly, for the premium price of this shoe, a premium insole would have been a welcome addition.

The New Balance Fresh Foam X Balos is one of the most rockered shoes we’ve tested in the lab, and we think there’s no need for ultra-precise measurements to notice it. Simply looking at its sharply curved profile makes this clear.

But of course, we measured it anyway. We discovered that while the toe spring doesn’t rise exceptionally high, it begins quite early, and the heel features a deeply curved design. This results in a ride better suited for those who appreciate a forward-driving feel, ideal for aerobic paces and long-distance runs, but not for high-speed intervals.

To assess the fit of the Balos, we crafted a gel mould with our custom method for precise comparison against other models. This allowed us to gather detailed measurements of the toebox.

After testing, we discovered the widest part of the upper measured 95.3 mm. That's around the average for road running shoes, and it aligns with New Balance’s consistent approach of designing moderately-spacious toeboxes for their daily trainers.

The big toe area feels slightly restrictive on paper, measuring just 72.8 mm.

While it should suit most feet, a bit more space for toe splay would have been ideal in the standard width D. Thankfully, New Balance provides a Wide size option in select markets.

While the Balos offers average width, the vertical space tells a different story.

At 24.5 mm, we found it to be a low-volume shoe, so runners with higher-volume feet should approach with caution.

New Balance made considerable efforts to offset the plush foam of the Balos with clever design tweaks to enhance stability, and in our view, it ended in a draw.

It’s not wildly unstable like the OG Nike Invincible, but we think its low-to-medium stability feel is best suited for neutral runners.

New Balance has focused on increasing the torsional rigidity of the Balos to a solid 4/5, which is impressively high for a plateless running shoe. This adjustment helps maintain a centred ride but naturally detracts from a more flexible, natural running experience.

The heel counter is slightly stiffer than what’s found in most daily trainers, scoring again 4/5, which further enhances rearfoot support and adds an another layer of stability to the shoe.

When we flipped the shoe in the lab, we couldn’t help but notice its Hoka-like design, featuring an ultra-wide midfoot and a broad heel. The forefoot, however, is less exaggerated at 117.6 mm—just slightly wider than average.

And here’s the heel—measuring 99.7 mm wide, this design leans toward a stability shoe. It’s a logical choice to balance the plush foam and nearly 40 mm stack height in this area, but makes the shoe look and feel a bit clumsy too.

While torsionally rigid, the Balos showcases impressive longitudinal flexibility, requiring only 17.3N in our 90-degree bend test. It’s ideal for easy runs and could even work for walking, though given its price, we believe it’s best reserved for running...

At just 8.7 oz or 247g, one of the standout strengths of the Balos is its impressively low weight for such a generously cushioned shoe.

This lightweight-yet-cushioned build aligns perfectly with what we expect from a premium-priced running shoe. In our view, New Balance delivered with the Balos an excellent choice for runners seeking a plush yet feather-light daily trainer.

If a shoe costs £200, breathability is a non-negotiable feature—especially for a daily trainer intended for year-round use. Thankfully, the Balos met our expectations when we tested it in the lab.

Using our smoke-pumping machine, we observed smoke escaping efficiently through the toebox, earning the shoe a solid 4/5 for breathability. This is a great result for runners tackling warmer conditions.

We then examined the upper under a light and noted its smartly designed ventilation zones. The toebox features an ultra-thin, airy material for excellent airflow, while the midfoot has moderate coverage, and the structured heel prioritises support over ventilation—a decision that makes sense.

To further analyse the upper, we used a microscope and were impressed by the precision in its construction.

New Balance interlaced threads of varying thickness to optimise durability while maintaining breathability.

The overall design combines the plush heel area of a daily trainer with the thin, lightweight toebox of a tempo shoe, making it a great blend of comfort and performance.

We suspected that the ultra-thin toebox of the Balos would struggle in our durability test—and unfortunately, we were right. After testing it with the Dremel, the material gave out entirely, earning a disappointing 1 out of 5.

As we lifted the Dremel, the damage revealed itself completely. That white layer visible in the images isn’t part of the shoe’s structure—it’s a temporary insert we used to hold the upper securely in place. However, the final result left no doubt!

Moving to the heel, the Balos redeemed itself with an impressive 4/5, alleviating concerns about durability. We were genuinely pleased with this result, ensuring no early wear issues in this notoriously high-friction area.

We’ve praised the Balos for its lightweight build despite its size, and the main reason lies in the outsole. It features minimal rubber coverage, applied only in high-wear areas—specifically, the toe spring zone and the lateral side of the heel. That’s all.

In these key sections, the Balos utilises thick rubber, which scored 81.0 HC on our durometer, an average measurement. For the rest of the outsole, New Balance employed a combination of white exposed foam and blue rubberized EVA, which we’ll detail further in a moment.

Before diving into the rubberized EVA, we fired up the Dremel to test the rubber’s performance under stress. The results were impressive: just 0.5 mm of wear. That offers some reassurance despite the limited rubber coverage.

Another strong aspect of the rubber design is its substantial thickness, measuring 4.5 mm.

New Balance incorporated a rare technique in the Balos, replacing standard rubber with rubberized EVA on the outsole. This adjustment makes the shoe lighter and enhances the ultra-soft feel during runs by minimising the amount of hard rubber.

It’s not a groundbreaking innovation though—New Balance used a similar approach in the Beacon v1 many years ago, and ASICS adopted it more recently in the Cumulus 26. However, it comes with a major concern: durability.

As anticipated, the Dremel quickly tore through the blue EVA erasing more than 6 mm of foam, confirming that runners who tend to wear out the medial side of their outsoles should carefully reconsider the Balos as an option.

The New Balance Fresh Foam X Balos is undeniably pricey—there’s no sugarcoating it, and we’re certainly not here to act as New Balance sales reps. We even shelled out the £200 ourselves to buy this pair!

That said, if you’re willing to invest a bit more in a daily trainer, this shoe delivers premium materials, an ultra-lightweight build, and a unique, fun running experience that’s hard to find in its category.

For £200, we expect any daily trainer to pack every premium feature imaginable. One such feature is reflective elements—not essential, but they provide an extra layer of safety for low-light runs.

We were thrilled to discover full 360-degree reflectivity, a rare feature that adds value to the shoe—though we still question whether the price might be too high...

In our view, delivering substantial cushioning with minimal weight requires trade-offs, and the tongue padding is one of them—measuring just 2.5 mm, it’s noticeably thinner than most premium daily trainers.

Interestingly, this knit tongue lacks a loop to keep it centred, which could pose a problem if it isn’t gusseted. Let’s take a look...

Yes, it’s fully fixed to the sides, and we must say it offers one of the better fits we’ve encountered recently. The knit material of the tongue molds beautifully to the instep, enhancing comfort and providing a secure lockdown.

We found an extended heel collar designed for easy grip and Achilles tendon support.

While it includes the shoe’s name printed on it, we believe New Balance could improve the overall aesthetic of the lettering. It looks kinda cheap.

The removable insole comes with a standard shape, making it easy to swap for orthotics or a thinner option to slightly increase the toebox volume.